=over

=item $MATCH

=item $&
X<$&> X<$MATCH>

The string matched by the last successful pattern match (not counting
any matches hidden within a BLOCK or C<eval()> enclosed by the current
BLOCK).

See L</Performance issues> above for the serious performance implications
of using this variable (even once) in your code.

This variable is read-only and dynamically-scoped.

Mnemonic: like C<&> in some editors.

=back